Abstract: A method of controlling the deposition of silica-containing scales and their adhesion to surfaces in contact with an aqueous system is disclosed which comprises adding to the aqueous system an imidazoline or imidazoline derivative.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to filters for removing impurities from liquids, and more particularly to a replaceable filter cartridge having a barrier for preventing contaminants from draining from a spent cartridge, as it is being replaced. The barrier comprises a layer of filter media closely surrounding an inner perforated conducting conduit.

Abstract: Installation for the sterilization of a body of water wherein the water is conveyed through a heat exchanger to a heat source, where it is heated up to the sterilization temperature. This stream of hot water transfers its heat to the incoming stream of water, leaving the heat exchanger at a temperature that is only slightly higher than that of the incoming water.

Abstract: A process for treating a waste sludge of biological solids including the steps of blending the sludge with an acid, mixing an oxide-chemical with the blended sludge so as to cause a reaction which elevates a temperature of the sludge, pressurizing the mixed sludge to a pressure of greater than 14.7 p.s.i.a. and retaining the mixed sludge at such pressure for a period of time of no less than 15 seconds, and discharging the pressurized mixed sludge. The step of pressurizing is accomplished by passing the mixed sludge as a flow into the pipe. The pipe has a length and diameter such that the flow of the mixed sludge takes longer than 15 seconds to pass through the pipe. The mixed sludge is heated as the flow passes through the pipe. An immersion heater or a magnetic field is installed so as to apply heat directly to the mixed sludge as the mixed sludge passes through the pipe.

Abstract: A gas treatment system for liquids can increase gas exposure and contact time. A liquid stream is directed into a vortex chamber (130). The vortex chamber (130) creates a downward spiral flow of the liquid stream forcing it into an upper end inlet (145) of a contact tank (114) and downward in the contact tank (114). When the liquid stream reaches a lower region (170) of the contact tank (114), a portion is drawn into a draw tube (120) while the other portion is drawn into a re-circulation system (160). In the re-circulation system (160), a gas injector system (166) entrains bubbles of a treatment gas into the liquid stream creating a re-circulated stream that is displaced into an upper region (168) in the contact tank (114). The portion drawn into the draw tube (120) then moves upwardly to a degassing chamber (146) wherein the treatment gas is separated from the liquid and delivered through an outlet (124) for use.

Abstract: A pool buffer composition comprising about 90 to 91% by weight sodium bicarbonate; about 6.5% to about 7.5% by weight sodium carbonate; and at least one binder and/or clarifier. The composition is preferably in granular of compressed tablet form and is most advantageously used in the pool water filtration system slightly upstream of the introduction point of a chlorine pool treatment product introduction point. The product is especially advantageously used substantially simultaneously with the introduction of the chlorine pool treatment product.

Abstract: A method of controlling the deposition of silica-containing scales and their adhesion to surfaces in contact with an aqueous system is disclosed which comprises adding to the aqueous system an ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymer.

Abstract: A hydrothermal process (10) is integrated into a wastewater treatment facility (12) to fully oxidize an undigested wastewater sludge produced by the treatment facility. A thickened and conditioned feed mixture comprising sludge from the treatment facility is first pressurized to a critical pressure and then heated to a reaction initiating temperature below the critical temperature. An oxidant is injected into the feed mixture at the reaction initiating temperature to initiate an oxidation reaction in low light-off temperature constituents of the feed mixture to produce a partially reacted mixture and raise the temperature of the partially reacted mixture to at least the critical temperature for water in a supercritical water oxidation reactor (52). Heat from the supercritical water oxidation reaction is used to heat the feed mixture and also, to condition the sludge from the wastewater treatment plant preferably by thickening and heating the sludge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an aqueous chlorine dioxide solution is disclosed which includes reacting in a reaction vessel an acid reaction solution containing a hydroxy carboxylic acid and a companion acid with an alkali metal salt of a chlorite ion. In accordance with the process, the hydroxy carboxylic acid serves to temporarily transfer chlorine from and does not form a salt with the alkali metal salt of a chlorite ion. The aqueous chlorine dioxide solution produced is substantially free of chlorous acid and preferably is free of other by-products such as sodium chloride and free chlorine. The method further includes maintaining the reaction vessel at a pH of less than 5 and/or withdrawing at least a portion of the chlorine dioxide from the aqueous chlorine dioxide solution. The method enables rapid, efficient, compact and safe generation of chlorine dioxide. A method of disinfecting water, and apparatus for making chlorine dioxide and for disinfecting water also are provided.

Abstract: A method for the control of microorganisms, especially spore forming organisms, algae, yeast fungi and slime bacteria by bringing an active amount of sodium percarbonate and/or sodium peroxide into contact with the microorganisms.

Abstract: A method and composition for the remediation of environmental contaminants in soil, sediment, aquifer material, water, or containers in which contaminants were contained, wherein contaminants are reacted with a remediating composition comprising a metal and a sulfur-containing compound to produce environmentally-acceptable, chemically reduced products. The method is useful for treating contaminants such as halogenated hydrocarbons, pesticides, chemical warfare agents and dyes. The remediating composition preferably contains comminuted, commercial grade iron and iron sulfide. The addition of an alcohol to the reactants enhances the rate of the remediation reaction, particularly for contaminants of soils and sediments.

Abstract: A process for the desalination and demineralization of solutions conmining acids and/or metal salts comprising a number of steps after introducing a solution to be treated. Initially, chemical agents are added to precipitate predetermined salts. Afterward clarification occurs. An inhibitor is then introduced for inhibiting further precipitation of the salts. The process proceeds by concentrating the salts in 5%-80% of tile flow of the solution to be treated into a supersaturated concentrate to form a concentrated fraction, the remaining fraction being a demineralized permeate. There is then removal of the effect of the precipitation inhibitor allowing precipitation of crystallizable supersaturated salts in the concentrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for measuring the concentration of contaminants in an aqueous water system, wherein the contaminants are measured with the bioreactor containing a biofilm or microbial community which acts on the water to be analyzed to provide a measure of the amount of the dissolved organic carbon which is biodegradable. A bed for facilitating regulation of water flow through the bioreactor is provided, and an autosampling mechanism enables the measurement of total organic carbon, inorganic carbon and oxygen, between sample inflow and sample outflow at specified time intervals.

Abstract: A water treatment system that a pair of series connected reactor vessels, each of which provides for flow of water to be treated through an annular treatment region that surrounds a longitudinally-extending source of ultraviolet radiation, has porous wall surrounding the annular treatment region, and an annular air/oxygen chamber between the porous wall and the exterior of the vessel. In one reactor, the ultraviolet source produces radiation having a wavelength in the range of about 185 nanometers, oxygen permeates through the porous wall as a fine bubble mist, the tangential aqueous stream shears the mist from the wall, the oxygen bubbles encounter UV light, and the oxygen is converted to ozone which in turn reacts with water in the water to produce hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: Oxidizable contaminants in water are destroyed rapidly and efficiently by exposing the water to oxidizing conditions under pressure. Specifically, a single dose of hydrogen peroxide may be injected into the water, followed by the repeated injection and mixing of low doses of ozone. In each such high intensity mixing/reaction stage, ozone is injected at a pressure, velocity, and direction approximately matching that of the contaminated water flow. High intensity mixing under pressure facilitates rapid and complete oxidation of the contaminants with minimal stripping of volatile contaminants and waste of undissolved ozone. Residual ozone levels after high intensity mixing may be carefully monitored and minimized by adjusting the injection of hydrogen peroxide and ozone in order to suppress the formation of bromate. Additional contaminants may be removed by passing the treated water through activated carbon beds.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for extracting contaminants from the ground using a vacuum extraction process. Specifically, the invention discloses a circuit that can control the flow of atmospheric air into a vacuum extraction well. By controlling the air flow into the well, the air flow circuit serves to regulate the vacuum that is applied to sub-surface contaminants. This vacuum lifts the contaminated effluent from the ground, so it can be subjected to further processing.

Abstract: A counter top water filter unit intended for domestic use to be placed adjacent to a sink and having an inlet at its lower end which is coupled to the sink faucet. The filter unit includes a cylindrical-shaped carbon particle filter cartridge which has a longitudinal passage extending from one end to the other, and a removable pre-filter screen coaxial with the cartridge and surrounding the cartridge, both elements being removably mounted within a cylindrical filter housing, the housing being closed at its upper end and open at its lower end. A replaceable electronic display monitor unit is mounted in an outlet housing fitted to the top of the cylindrical filter housing. The state of the life-span of the filter cartridge is shown on the display monitor in terms of colored indicator lights which denote whether the filter cartridge is within, nearing an end to, and outside its expected life-span.

Abstract: A water purifier includes a housing that contains a purification material for purifying the water. The water purifier is placed a flow of circulating water in the spa. The purification material preferably can be a silver-containing material.

Abstract: A waste water treating system which has an incline pipe for passing waste water therethrough by gravity flow. This aeration pipe has tuyere perforations penetrating the pipe along a portion and a sealed jacket surrounds this perforated portion of the pipe. An access conduit is connected to the jacket for access to the interior of the jacket and an air fan is mounted at the upper in the access conduit for forcing air under pressure from its inlet into the interior of the jacket and through the perforation as tuyeres for agitating and aerating waste water passing through the perforated aeration pipe. Additional aeration may be accomplished by gravity flow of the waste water by connecting the downstream end of this perforated pipe to a vertical riser pipe for flowing waste water by gravity flow from an upper open end of the riser pipe to assist in further aeration of the waste water.

Abstract: An oxygenated water cooler and method of operating the same for dispensing oxygen enriched water from a bottle installed on the cooler wherein an oxygen source integrated into the cooler delivers oxygen through the water to a headspace above the water in the bottle to maintain the dissolved oxygen content of water in the bottle at an elevated level during the entire time water is dispensed from the bottle by the cooler, the elevated dissolved oxygen level having been established previously during the water bottling process. The oxygen source preferably comprises an oxygen generator, and such generator preferably comprises pressure swing absorption oxygen generating apparatus.